Gierkink: Santa Anita early pick five play for Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019

The early Pick five has some appeal on a nine-race card put together by new racing secretary Steve Lym.

Two 3-year-olds have worked encouragingly leading up to the opening first-level optional claimer, according to the DRF Clocker Report. The former Irish runner URBAN LIGHT (2) had a solid training track drill on Jan. 30, and is certainly a candidate to negotiate the hillside turf course successfully off the bench. Tiago Pereira rides him for trainer Phil D’Amato, a combination that’s 3 for 9 at the meet. ONTHEWAYTONEVRLAND (3), another Irish-bred, graduated at second asking last out around two turns at Gulfstream. His Jan. 19 Palm Meadows turf work earned an excellent B+ rating.

The second race, a $16,000 sprint, can probably be pared down to the sharp win-machine STRINGENT (2) and front-runner PAPA TURF (6). They were one-two in a recent $12,500 claimer.

The third is made up almost exclusively of longtime maidens. Will single GETALOADOFTHIS (3), who’s turning back from a mile to 5 1/2 furlongs, while dropping from $20,000 to $16,000. He got a B for his blowout work, and is sent out by the accomplished route-sprint trainer Jerry Hollendorfer.

The fourth, a one-mile route for $12,500 non-winners of two, seems wide open, and is worthy of an “all.”

The fifth is a rare five-furlong turf dash for $20,000 claimers. At a glance, the class-plunging comebacker SWIRLING (1) looks like a dicey favorite, but her two B works on the report indicate that she’s in fine fettle. RED SHELBY (3) is eligible to rebound off the Hollendofer claim, and NAUGHTY SOPHIE (6) is another speed horse worth using, as long as the race remains on the grass.

Pick 5: 2,3/2,6/3/ALL/1,3,6